The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has suffered a loss of Rs 4.1 billion due to the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian flights. The government maintains that national sovereignty and security outweigh any economic interest.
In a written reply to the National Assembly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that from April 24 to June 30, 2025, Pakistan’s airspace remained closed to all Indian aircraft, as part of the “Battle of Truth” decision to revoke their overflight permission. This closure affected 100 to 150 Indian flights daily, reducing overall air traffic by around 20%.
The minister added that in 2019, during tensions with India, the closure of airspace had cost the PAA approximately Rs 7.6 billion in overflying revenue. While acknowledging the financial loss, he stressed that the protection of national sovereignty and defence would always be prioritised over economic gain.
Currently, Pakistan’s airspace is open to all international airlines except Indian aircraft, while Pakistani aircraft are also barred from Indian airspace. Before the 2019 tensions, the average daily overflying revenue stood at USD 508,000.
Khawaja Asif said that when it comes to defending national sovereignty and security, no price is too high, adding that despite this temporary disruption, the PAA demonstrated financial resilience.
During the session, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar remarked that fake news had surged during Pakistan-India tensions, and the advent of AI technology has made the problem more severe. He accused the Indian media of habitual dishonesty, while crediting Pakistani media for maintaining ethical standards. He also announced the establishment of the country’s first Digital Communication Department.
The assembly also discussed the murder case of lawyer Shamsul Islam. Shehryar Afridi alleged that police had detained female relatives of the suspect, to which Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar assured that no women would be harassed. He emphasised that retribution is not a citizen’s right but the prerogative of the state. The session was adjourned until 5 pm on Monday.
